Clamping device for metal forms



Oct. 24, 1933.

F. C. WOTNOSKE CLAMPING DEVICE FOR METAL FORMS Filed April 21, 1932 10 ill smut Evo 0. Mmosm:

Patented Oct. 24, 1933 UNITEDSTATESJ 1,931,834 CLAMPING DEVICE FOR METAL FORMS Fred C. Wotnoske, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Metal .Forms Corporation,

corporation 7 Milwaukee, Wis., a

Application April 21,1932. Serial No. 606,742

' 9 Claims. (01. 254131) The present invention appertains to the art of concrete forms, and involves primarily the provision of a v novel type of clamping 7 means which functions to maintain adjoining plates 5 which constitute parts of a concrete form, in

interlocked relation. 1. The clamping device formingthe subject matter of this application is very simply constructed, and is constructed so as to virtually eliminate the possibility of accidental release of the secured parts. The invention is in .the form of a clamp, which has the above described locking action. If the clamp engages the angles making up the engaging surfaces of the form plates, it is pushed down and then looks so that the clamp can only be unlocked by raising the clamp again and pull- .ing it out for disengagement.

The clamp is especially adapted in connection with forms used in the construction of concrete Walls, and a further object is to provide the clamp with means by which it may be grappled with a tool when located in positions inaccessible for reaching with the hand, the means operating to actuate the clamp from a position considerably above the plate to which the clamp is attached. The inventionwill be more readily understood from a consideration of the accompanying draw ,ing, in which-re Figure I is a fragmentary perspective view showing the. clamp of. the improved type securing together adjacent plates of a concrete form employed in wall construction.

1 Figure 2is a side view of the clamp showing it in looking position. a

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the clamp engaged by hooks, for manipulation thereof, the view showing the clamp being raised out of its locking position and indicating in dotted lines the position assumed by the clamp when it is released from the locking position and drops out of engagement with the plates. r Figure lis a perspective View of the-improved clamp. v -"Figure'5 is a sectional view through engaging H angle members of adjoining plates secured to- .gether by the clamping member and showing how 'the clamping member grips the angles of the plates, the view being taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

In concrete wall: construction, the forms customarily employed include opposing plates firmly held in proper spaced relation by suitable bars inserted through the plates, the areas of the forms being increased, as required, by the addition of other plates positioned in edge to edge relation with the aforesaid plates and interlocked therewith. In the drawing, .see Figure 1 for example, two of such adjoining plates are indicated at vA and B, these plates having secured thereto the transversely extending angle bars 1 and 2, and the longitudinally extending angle bars 3 and 4. These angle bars are of similar shape butcertain of them, illustrated for example by-bar 4 located along one edge of the plate, are provided 5 with the clamping instrumentalities of the improved form. For the mounting of these instrumentalities there are provided on the bar 4 a suitable number of projecting lugs or rivets 5, each of which has the shank portion 6 and the head 7, by means of which the clamping instrumentalities, generally designated as 8, are permanently mounted to the angle bar.

In the illustrated form, the'clampsv are composed of a pair, although this is not material, of flat cooperating elements 9 and 10, forming the handle of the clamp andv terminating in a, pair of clamping elements formed in a suitable manner, as by cit-setting one of these members, illustrated as the member 9 toform a portion 12 which is offset relatively to the member 10 ,to form the clamping elements betweenwhich the angle bars of the adjacent plates are clamped.

The member 10 is shaped to form the clamping and locking portion 13, which is provided with a 5 comparatively large, elongated slot 14, which receives the shank 6 of the lug 5 by means of which the clamp is permanently mounted in position, the clamp being freely turnablev on the lug.

Extending from the side of the portion 13 is the slot 15, which is formed with an arm, or extension, 16, illustrated as extending at right angles to the slot l5,'defining the hook portion 20, which is adapted'to hook over the shank 6a 5 of the second lug or rivet 5a, which, similarly to the first lug aforementionedis provided with a relatively large head 7a which retains the hook 20 in interlocking relation with the lug upon suitable actuation of the handle 19, as will be apparent from the drawings, so that matingbars of adjoining plates will be releasably locked together and guarded thereby against accidental displacement.

When the forms are in use, certain of these clamping devices may be located in a difiicultly accessible position for releasing them to remove the forms after the wall is completed. To facilitate such removal, there is afiixed through each clamp, the pin 17, which projects sufi'lciently far on either side of the clamp to be engaged by a hook, or similar tool, 18, by means of which the hook portion 20 of the clamp can be lifted out of engagement with the shank 6a of the lug 5d, the clamp dropping by gravity into the dotted line position.

Since the bars 3 and l of contiguous plates must lie flatly against each other, the lugs 5 and 5a are cut off flush with the outer surface of the bar 4, so as to present a perfectly smooth surface. To assure proper mating between the engaging bars, the bar 4 is provided with holes for receiving the dowel pins 20a of the mating bar 3, by means of which the adjoining plates A and B are properly aligned. 1

The pin 17 may be inserted by shrinking the clamp around it in the well known manner, or by pressing the pin in place.

The specific shape of the clamping members is of course immaterial; and while the clamp is illustrated as being of two pieces riveted together, obviously it may be made of one piece substantially as well.

It is believed that the operation of the clamp will be apparent. By manipulating the handle 19 in an obvious manner, the hook portion 20 is secured over or released from the lug or rivet 7a,

to correspondingly secure the clamp in locking position, or to release it therefrom, thereby assembling or disassembling the adjoining plates of the forms; and, as has been previously indicated, the free engagement between the rivet 5 and sides of the slot 14 is of advantage.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A concrete form comprising a form member, upstanding reinforcing bars therefor secured to the form member, a pair of spaced lugs projecting from one of the reinforcing bars, and a clamping device swingably mounted on one of the said lugs and adapted to interlock with the other, the said clamping device having a handle member terminating in diverging end portions defining therebetween a space for receiving a reinforcing bar of a second form member to clamp the same to the first form member, one of the end portions being provided with an elongated slot through which the said lug is passed for mounting the clamping device on its bar, the said end portion being also provided with a second slot adapted to receive the second lug upon suitable manipulation of the clamping device, the second slot being provided with an extension for interlocking with the lug upon exertion of suitable pressure upon the handle of the clamp.

2. A concrete form comprising a form member, reinforcing bars therefor secured to the form member, a pair of spaced rivet lugs projecting from one of the reinforcing bars, and a clamping device adapted to secure together the said reinforcing bar and a corresponding bar on a second form, the said clamping device comprising a handle terminating in diverging side portions defining between them a space suitable for receiving the bars to be clamped, one of the said sides being provided with a slot loosely receiving one of the said lugs for mounting the clamp on its bar and being further provided with a second slot for engaging the other lug and interlocking therewith upon suitable manipulation of the clamping member.

3. A concrete form comprising a form mem ber, angular reinforcing bars therefor secured to the form member and having one side upwardly projecting from the form member, a pair of spaced rivet lugs extending from the upwardly projecting side of one of the reinforcing bars, the said lugs being provided with a shank and a head, and a clamping device adapted to secure together the said reinforcing bar and a corresponding bar on a second form, the said clamping device comprising a handle portion terminating in diverging side portions defining between them a space suitable for receiving the bars to be clamped, one of the said sides being provided with an elongated slot extending longitudinally of the bar and receiving the shank of one of the said lugs to allow free turning of the clamping device between the head of the lug and the bar, the side also having a second slot adapted to pass over the shank of the second lug and to interlock therewith upon proper manipulation of the clamp, the said diverging side portions having registering openings extending therethrough above the upwardly projecting side of the bar, and a pin extending through the said openings and projecting from either side thereof a sufficient distance to be engaged by a tool for, manipulation of the clamp when it is otherwise inaccessible.

4. A clamping device of the character described, comprising a handle portion terminating in diverging side portions forming a clamping space for receiving and clamping together corresponding reinforcing bars of a pair of concrete form members, one of the said side portions being mountable upon one of the said bars for free turning thereon and being alsoprovided with means for releasably interlocking it, upon suitable manipulation' of the clamp, with its bar to secure the said corresponding reinforcing bars together without likelihood of accidental displacement thereof, and a member extending from either side of the clamp sufficiently far to be operatively engaged by a tool for manipulation of the clamp when it is in an otherwise inaccessible position.

5. A clamping device of the character described, comprising a handle portion terminating in diverging side portions forming a clamping space for receiving and clamping together corresponding reinforcing bars of a pair of concrete form members, one of the said side portions being provided with an elongated slot for mounting the clamp upon one of the said bars and being also provided with a second slot extending from an edge of the said side portion and having an extension at substantially right angles to the said slot to form a locking means for the clamp upon suitable manipulation thereof, the reinforcing bar upon which the clamp is mounted being provided with a projecting lug adapted to enter the said slot and projection to lock the clamp against accidental displacement.

6. A clamping device of the character described, comprising a handle portion terminating in cooperating clamping members, at least one of which members is adapted to be permanently mounted on a concrete form for free motion relatively thereto for clamping to the form a second form in contiguous relation, and being provided with a hook portion for interlocking with the forms to prevent accidental displacement thereof.

A clamping device of the character described, comprising a handle portion terminating in cooperating clamping members, one of which comprises a portion adapted to be permanently att ched to a support, and a hook portion for allowing locking of the clamping device to the clamping members when thedevice is positioned in an otherwise inaccessible position.

9. A concrete form construction comprising, in combination, a form having an offstanding part, a clamp device movably carried on said part and including a handle terminating in spaced clamping members, at least one of the clamping members being formed into a locking part, and means carried by the offstanding part for engaging with the locking part to thereby secure the clamping device in operative locking position.

FRED C. WOTNOSKE. 

